title: Calcium-catalyzed Pictet-Spengler reactions.
abstract: Pictet-Spengler reactions of m-tyramine and aldehydes produced tetrahydroisoquinolines in the presence of a catalytic amount of Ca[OCH(CF3)2]2. This reaction occurs with a variety of aryl, heteroaryl, and alkyl aldehydes, producing tetrahydroisoquinolines in high yield and with high regioselectivity. This calcium-promoted Pictet-Spengler reaction provides a mild alternative to the traditional Brønsted acids typically employed in these reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Evans Chemical Laboratories, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Vanden Eynden
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Stambuli